两部门完善省内天然气管输价格机制

Core Viewpoint - The National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration have issued guidelines to transition from "one line one price" and "one enterprise one price" to a unified pricing model for natural gas pipeline transportation within provinces, aiming to facilitate the integration into a national network [2][4]. Pricing Mechanism - The new pricing mechanism will implement a unified pricing model for provincial natural gas pipeline transportation, moving towards either zonal pricing or a province-wide uniform price to align with inter-provincial pricing mechanisms [2][4]. - The pricing will be determined based on a "permitted cost plus reasonable return" method, with provincial development and reform departments conducting strict cost audits [2][3]. Pricing Parameters - The depreciation period for natural gas pipeline assets is set at 40 years, and safety production costs must be fully accounted for to ensure stable operation [3]. - The permitted return rate will be determined considering pipeline construction needs and user affordability, generally not exceeding the 10-year government bond yield plus 4 percentage points [3]. Regulatory Framework - The pricing will undergo periodic reviews and dynamic adjustments, with a regulatory cycle of three years, allowing for early reviews if significant changes occur in assets, costs, or gas volumes [3]. - The guidelines emphasize the importance of safety production costs to enhance the focus on pipeline safety in various provinces [3]. Industry Impact - The guidelines will facilitate easier comparisons for enterprises when selecting different paths and service providers, as they allow for zonal or single pricing for provincial pipelines [3]. - The integration of provincial pipelines into the national network system is expected to lay the groundwork for a unified national operation in the future [4].